The Gold Coast Titans will take two matches to regional centres (Gladstone and Toowoomba), while the Rabbitohs will continue play its habit of playing a game in Cairns.

Mudgee, in the NSW central-west, gets a Dragons-inspired double dip.

Not only will the town be the venue for the St George’s annual pre-season Charity Shield match against the Rabbitohs but it too will host an NRL game.

Wests Tigers will host a match in Tamworth, Penrith Panthers will play in Bathurst, while both the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney will take matches to Gosford.

NRL boss Todd Greenberg said the NRL had worked with the clubs and Country Rugby League in order to maximise the number of matches in regional areas in 2018.

"We have said for some time it was our strong desire to take more games to regional venues in 2018, and we're extremely happy to have been able to do that as part of the new schedule," Mr Greenberg said.

Details of each of the fixtures will be released when the full 2018 NRL Telstra Premiership schedule is released.